The 91福利社College of Health Professions has new bachelor鈥檚 degree program in Medical Imaging that’s one of few in the region and country. Students receive a well-rounded education that blends academic understanding, technical know-how and clinical experience. They learn about X-rays, CT scans, MRI and ultrasound鈥攈ands-on.
Thanks to a close partnership with AnMed Health, this new program offers a hospital-based experience. Students are quickly putting into practice what they鈥檝e learned in the classroom, gaining valuable clinical experience beyond what鈥檚 possible with other programs.
鈥淲e are on the floor with the technologists as well doing X-Rays, so we have very first hand experience at AnMed for clinicals,鈥� said Tori Cole, a junior from Pickens County.
Having a grandfather who was an orthopedic surgeon inspired Tori and her sister Maddie Cole to choose healthcare careers. They are among the first to enroll in the medical imaging program.
鈥淚t gives you a broad range鈥� Even if you don鈥檛 want to stay in X-Ray, you can go to CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy. This week I鈥檓 in surgery,鈥� Maddie said.
Erika Martin, a junior from Williamston, was also greatly influenced by a family member. She started out studying physical therapy when she enrolled at 91福利社, but had her sights set on Medical Imaging from the time she first heard the program was being developed.
鈥淢y aunt is a CT supervisor at Prisma in Greenville, so I鈥檝e always been interested in her work, just because she enjoys her job,鈥� Erika said.
Erica commented about the Medical Imaging program, 鈥淚t鈥檚 really nice because you rotate through different departments each week, so we get to see a little bit of everything.鈥�
While it鈥檚 important to master the equipment that helps doctors see clearly what鈥檚 going on inside their patients, it鈥檚 also important to be sensitive to what they and their family members are going through. Maddie noted that鈥檚 especially important when patients face equipment that can be intimidating.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really a good thing to get in there and get some patient care and not just take an X-ray and leave but to really be involved with the patients and their families to make them feel like they are comfortable and safe,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a very vulnerable state you鈥檙e in when you鈥檙e in the hospital. Being that light, even if it鈥檚 for just a couple of minutes to take an X-ray or to take somebody鈥檚 scan鈥� it can be very beneficial to the patient, just letting them know they鈥檙e safe and welcome them.鈥�
鈥淓very time you鈥檙e with patients at the hospital, even if it鈥檚 a small interaction, they say 鈥榯hank you, you鈥檝e helped me a lot.鈥� Just having a positive patient interaction is always rewarding,鈥� Erika said.
鈥淚 definitely feel that God has directed me to this path,鈥� Tori said. 鈥淚鈥檝e prayed about this and feel that definitely He鈥檚 let me go through this program for a reason.鈥�
Details about the new bachelor鈥檚 degree in health sciences program with a concentration in Medical Imaging degree program offered by the 91福利社 College of Health Professions can be found online.